Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
These air fryer chicken drumsticks are crispy and golden on the outside and so juicy inside. The first time I made them, my family couldn’t believe they came out of the air fryer! They have that delicious crunchy coating everyone loves, but they’re much easier to make and use way less oil
Equipment
- air fryer
- Large mixing bowl
- measuring spoons and cups
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken drum sticks
- 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp Mrs Dash or Vegata seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
Instructions
- Start by placing 2 pounds of chicken drumsticks into a large bowl. Use paper towels to remove excess moisture. Season the chicken with 2 teaspoons Mrs. Dash or Vegeta, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 2 crushed garlic cloves.Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt and mix everything together until each piece of chicken is completely coated.Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. If you have time, leave it overnight. I prefer to keep it over night because the chicken gets even more flavorful, plus there’s less work to do at dinnertime the next day.
- When you’re ready to cook, pour 1 cup of Italian-style breadcrumbs onto a large plate or platter.Take one chicken leg at a time and roll it through the breadcrumbs. Gently press the breadcrumbs onto all sides of the chicken so you get a nice, even coating.Place the chicken into your air fryer basket in a single layer. Leave a little space between each drumstick so the hot air can circulate around them. If your air fryer is smaller, just cook the chicken in two batches instead of trying to squeeze everything in.Air fry at 380°F for about 22–28 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through.Since chicken legs can vary quite a bit in size and every air fryer cooks a little differently, I always check them with a meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F.If the chicken is cooked through but you want the outside a little more golden brown, leave it in the air fryer for another minute or two.